EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. -- Fifteen Minnesota Vikings were absent from Wednesday's organized team activities practice and another half-dozen weren't seen after stretching.

Among those who remain absent from the voluntary workouts are running back Adrian Peterson and receiver Percy Harvin, but coach Brad Childress said he isn't concerned about the mind-set or conditioning of his top playmakers.

Childress said he has talked "on a number of different occasions" with Peterson, who is working out in Houston.

"He's not on a lark down there," Childress said. "He will be right where he needs to be when we see him next.

"Would I like to see him a month ago? Absolutely. You know how I'm wired."

Childress saw Harvin during a trip in April.

"I can account for what I saw with Percy in Florida with what he looked like and what he has gained strength and weight-wise," Childress said. "Again, he's not being a slacker either."

End Ray Edwards, who hasn't signed his restricted tender, also has stayed away and isn't expected to show for next weekend's mandatory minicamp either.

PAYNE GAINSThere aren't a lot of eye-opening plays in the no-pads, little-contact environment of OTAs, but Logan Payne made one on Wednesday.

Signed May 21 after a tryout weeks earlier, the former Gophers standout beat rookie Chris Cook on a cross and later flashed some speed by burning veteran Lito Sheppard on a go route during a one-on-one drill.

"I'm faster than I ever was," said Payne, a big receiver (6-foot-2, 208 pounds) who ran the 40-yard dash in the 4.5 range at his 2007 pro day.

"I feel great, and I'm happy to be here."

Payne appeared in his only two NFL games in 2008 with Seattle and since has spent time with Kansas City and Detroit. Childress said Payne's familiarity in the West Coast offense has been obvious and that he's attacked the opportunity to find a role on special teams as well.

"It's not just the pie-in-the-sky stuff where they say you have to do this and he is like, 'Yeah, yeah, I don't do that,'" Childress said. "He understands the importance of doing that."

QUICK HITS* Childress was part of the Vikings contingent that was picked up in a National Guard helicopter on Tuesday and visited a local base. Asked whether it was true he rappelled down a cliff, Childress said, "Well, let me put it this way: I was attached to a rope and I did, in fact, climb to the top. Somewhere, there is footage of it that I am afraid will surface. ... Yes, I in fact did go up to the top and take the leap of faith."